Advocacy starts with you! The Kentucky Psychological Association-Political Action Committee (KPA-PAC), http://www.kpapac.org , has received outstanding support from psychologists across the state. In our inaugural year, we are excited to report that 100% of eligible KPA board members donated to the KPA-PAC and we received numerous contributions from psychologists throughout Kentucky.

Your generous offerings allowed psychology to have a voice through supporting state legislative races. We are pleased to report that your dollars in action contributed to victory for eleven of the fourteen campaigns to which we donated. That’s right, eleven of the fourteen legislators we donated to won their legislative race! Here’s the list of the eleven winning campaigns to which we contributed this year.

1. Senator Morgan McGarvey (D) –serves Senate District 19 in Jefferson County and is on the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee (among others)

2. Rep. Rocky Adkins (D)-Minority Floor Leader-serves House District 99-Elliot, Lewis, Rowan

3. Rep. Sannie Overly (D)-serves House District 72-Bath, Bourbon, Fayette (part), Nicholas

4. Rep. Jody Richards (D)-serves House District 20-Warren (part) and is on the Education Committee (among others)

5. Rep. Lynn Belcher (R)-serves House District 4-Caldwell, Christian (part), Crittenden, Livingston

a. Service- House-2013-present

6. Rep. Tom Burch (D)-serves House District 30- Jefferson (part) and is on the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection committees (among others)

7. Rep. Reginald Meeks (D)-serves House District 42-Jefferson (part) and is on the Education and Licensing and Occupations committee (among others)

8. Rep. Darryl T. Owens (D)-serves House District 43-Jefferson (part) and is on the Health and Welfare, Health and Family Services, and Licensing and Occupations committees (among others)

9. Rep. Susan Westrom (D)-serves House District 79 –Fayette (part) and is on the Licensing and Occupations committee (among others)

10. Senator Stephen Meredith (R)-serves Senate District 5-Breckinridge, Edmonson, Grayson, Hart, Larue, Meade and is on the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory, Education, and Health and Welfare committees (among others)

11. Rep. Jill York (R)- serves House District 96-Carter, Lawrence and is on the Education committee (among others)

Look for future newsletters to highlight contributions these legislators have made to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We hope that you join us in supporting psychology’s voice across the state!

For even more information on the legislators we've supported, click here!

By Felicia Smith, Ph.D.

SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE KPA-PAC

The KPA-PAC provides a way to connect with political candidates and educate them on topics that are important to the psychology community.
Through financial contributions to political candidates, the KPA-PAC helps to get psychology-friendly policy makers elected.
The KPA-PAC enables KPA to become visible in the policy making process.
Our KPA elected leadership are strong supporters of the KPA-PAC and have established a goal of 100% donor participation among eligible Board members.
The KPA-PAC is a tool for building relationships with policy makers and ensures psychology professionals have a voice in public policy.
By reporting back about the important issues, the KPA-PAC can increase the psychological community’s awareness of the political process.
Psychology is a non-partisan topic. The KPA-PAC is our opportunity to communicate to legislators and candidates across all parties that we are engaged in the process.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Donate! Contribute to our efforts. PAC donors will be acknowledged at the KPA annual convention and in member communications. Donate online at www.kpapac.org
Attend KPA’s annual Legislative Day in Frankfort and meet legislators to begin building personal relationships with them.
Develop an ongoing relationship with your legislator or candidate and educate them on issues that matter to psychology.
Attend the PAC social event at the KPA Convention on Thursday, November 3, 2016.

The KPA-PAC our voice for psychology in the political process. With your support, KPA will continue to monitor and initiate legislation that impacts psychological health and psychology practice in Kentucky. The KPA-PAC needs your support now!